Why We Care

At 12 years old, my first summer job in Chicago was volunteering at my neighborhood public library. It was there that I first experienced the power of community initiatives.

Struck by the national scope of the crisis, I began working with to educators and organizations to help make a more meaningful impact.

Handwoven Youth was then formed, focused on inclusive education and expanded literacy resources.

This drive and passion for literacy, equal access to opportunities, and commitment to advocacy is a moral passed down from my grandfather, Rev. Jesse Jackson. Who with a group of visionary leaders founded PUSH Excel in 1975.

PUSH Excels core purpose is to foster educational principles for inner-city youth, connecting principals, parents, prominent figures, and students to strengthen community engagement at every level of the educational ladder.

Inspired by this legacy, Handwoven Youth weaves together the past and present. Striving to help all youth feel more connected to their identities and educational journeys.

In a time when censorship, student disengagement, and educational inequalities are rising, Handwoven Youth is more than a nonprofit—it’s a movement grounded in hope, action, and collaboration.

We have developed programs and materials that empower youth to make an impact in their world.